Crispy Millet Pakoda
These Crispy Millet Pakodas are everything I love in a snack: crunchy edges, bold spices, and a texture that keeps every bite interesting.✨They’re made with soaked chana dal and cooked millets as the base, then layered with crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, and coarsely ground spices that adds a deep, earthy aroma. It’s a familiar kind of comfort, just made a little more special. 😍
Ingredients
For Grinding:
- 1/2 cup chana dal (yellow split chickpeas lentils)
- 2-3 green chilies
- 1- inch ginger
- 2 cloves garlic , optional
- 6-8 curry leaves
Freshly Ground Spices:
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds (saunf)
Fritters:
- 1 cup cooked millets , foxtail, little, or barnyard millet
- 1/2 cup onions , finely chapped
- 1/2 cup potatoes , grated (regular or sweet potato)
- 2 tbsp rice flour
- 3 tbsp peanuts , roughly crushed
- 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp carom seeds (ajwain)
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1/4 tsp garam masala
- pinch turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp salt , adjust to taste
- 1/4 tsp black salt
- 2 tbsp cilantro , finely chopped
- 1 tsp hot oil
- chaat masala , for sprinkling on top
Instructions
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Grind the base: In a mixer grinder, blend soaked chana dal with green chilies, ginger, garlic, and curry leaves into a coarse paste. Do not add water.
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Fresh Masala: Coarsely ground cumin seeds, coriander seeds and fennel using a mortar and pestle.
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Mix: In a large bowl, combine the ground chana dal paste with cooked millets, finely chopped onions, grated potatoes, rice flour, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, and all the spices — including the coarsely ground masala.
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Bind & Flavor: Add chopped cilantro and drizzle in hot oil. Mix well with your hands until everything binds together into a thick mixture. Add a little more rice flour if needed to hold the shape.
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Shape: Take small portions of the mixture and flatten slightly into discs. This helps with even cooking and crispier texture.
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To Deep Fry: Heat oil in a kadhai on medium flame. Fry pakoras in batches until golden and crisp.
To Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Lightly brush or spray the pakoras with oil and air fry for 12–15 minutes, flipping once midway, until golden and crisp.
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Your millet pakodas are ready, sprinkle some chaat masala on top and enjoy!